Conceptions of the Afterlife in Early Civilizations

By Gregory Shushan

Subjects: Universalism, ancient religions, near-death experience, Future life, Near-death experiences, Comparative studies, afterlife

Description: In an original and innovative piece of comparative research, Gregory Shushan analyses afterlife conceptions in five ancient civilisations (Old and Middle Kingdom Egypt, Sumerian and Old Babylonian Mesopotamia, Vedic India, pre-Buddhist China, and pre-Columbian Mesoamerica). These are considered in light of historical and contemporary reports of near-death experiences, and shamanic afterlife 'journeys'. Conceptions of the Afterlife in Early Civilizations is a significant study, for it presents a comprehensive new comparative framework for the cross-cultural study of myth and religion, while at the same time providing a fascinating exploration of the interface between belief and experience - as well as a challenge to post-modern scholarly attitudes concerning cross-cultural comparisons in the study of religions. The book was nominated for the 2011 Grawemeyer Award.